Introduction: A dear friend who worked with me on many cases routinely spent lunch time walking and talking with me about the Bible. He was a Catholic who, as he jokingly put it, “read his Bible.” Later in life, he ran into several set-backs. His wife decided not to accompany him to a new and important legal job. Not long afterward, he lost his new job. Then he was told that he was dying of cancer. I visited him shortly before he died. He told me that he knew that I would want to talk with him about his faith, but it was something he did not want to discuss. And then he died. He was not the first person I have known who had great faith, but seemed to give it up in the face of adversity and death. Keeping our faith is critically important. Let’s plunge into our study of the Bible to see what we can learn about keeping faith!
I. Faith in the Face of Adversity and Death
A. Read Mark 8:11-12 and Matthew 11:2-3. In these two accounts we find Pharisees and John the Baptist asking Jesus for a sign that He is the Messiah. What is the difference in the two requests? (The Pharisees are both arguing with Jesus and attempting to test Jesus. John the Baptist was no enemy of Jesus.)
1. Why do you think Jesus refused to give the Pharisees a sign?
a. Was this a question of encouraging faith?
B. Read Matthew 11:4-6. Does Jesus give John’s disciples signs?
C. Read John 1:32-34. Had John the Baptist previously expressed his faith that Jesus was the Son of God? (Yes. He had very clear evidence that Jesus was the Messiah.)
1. Why do you think that John’s faith has faltered? Why is he now uncertain? (I believe John is disappointed that Jesus has not done anything to have him released from prison.)
2. Look again at the signs in Matthew 11:5. Are these signs that benefit John?
3. What do you think Jesus is saying to John in Matthew 11:6? In what way might John the Baptist be “offended” by Jesus? (It is reasonable to believe that John was like Jesus’ disciples. They expected that Jesus would set up His kingdom on earth. How then could John, who introduced Jesus to the world, be left to rot in jail?)
D. Read Matthew 11:11-12. How is John both great and less than the least? Why does Jesus speak of John and violence?(John is not “least” in character or faithfulness. Rather, even the least person who lives in the full light of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and kingdom work has a privilege that John did not live to see. The reference to violence may include the violent opposition that has already put John in prison and will soon lead to his death. More broadly, Jesus seems to be saying that the kingdom of heaven is advancing in the face of fierce opposition.)
1. What does this conversation with John’s disciples teach those, like my friend, whose faith wavers because of adversity? (We must hold on to our faith, believing that Jesus has acted for our salvation and will ultimately make all things right. We may not understand what is going on, but we need to trust in Jesus.)
II. Faith and Unequal Results
A. Read Hebrews 11:1-2. Does this definition of faith seem right to you? (Faith is belief in things not yet received. This is the situation with John the Baptist.)
B. Read Hebrews 11:32-34. When did these people see their faith fulfilled? (While they were still alive.)
C. Read Hebrews 11:35-38. Imagine that these verses described your life and you had Christian friends whose lives were described by verses 32-34. How would you feel? Jealous? Angry? Would you carry the belief that life was unfair? God is unfair?
D. I recall a good friend who was a member of my church. He was smart, handsome, educated, and had a good job. He confided in me that it seemed that others were doing much better than he was. He sounded like he thought it was unfair that he lacked “success.” Then he died at the age of 50. What should we say about his life? (Read Hebrews 11:39-40. Hebrews tells us that even those who received great victories in this life did not receive the final promise here on earth. God has provided something better: the resurrection, the kingdom, and the perfected life we will share together.)
1. Is looking forward to the promise of Jesus the definition of faith?
III. Faith and Determination
A. Read Matthew 15:22. What is this Canaanite saying about Jesus? (She shows that she believes Jesus is the Messiah.)
B. Read Matthew 15:23. How do you react when someone simply ignores you? Especially when you think it might be because they are too superior to speak with you?
C. Read Matthew 15:24-26. How do you react when a person calls you a “dog?” When they imply your children are “dogs?”
D. Read Matthew 15:27-28. What is the lesson about faith that we should learn here? (We should fiercely hold onto our faith even when the circumstances are humiliating.)
1. Why did Jesus have this woman go through this humiliation? (Jesus is not in the business of humiliating us. He loves us. Jesus draws out this woman’s faith publicly, not to humiliate her, but to commend her faith and to teach His disciples that persistent faith may be found even among those they were tempted to overlook. This story provides a lesson for all of us through history to hold on to faith even in embarrassing circumstances.)
2. Think about the friend I mentioned in the introduction. Was it humiliating to have his wife leave him? Was it humiliating to lose his high-power job? Add to this that I, his junior lawyer for years, found him his next job. He was a very fit fellow. Is it humiliating for a fit person to die young from cancer?
IV. Faith on a Level Playing Field
A. Read Ephesians 2:1-3. We just discussed that we might find that others seem to live a better life than we do. What does this tell us about our relative positioning with others? (We are all in desperate need of help.)
B. Read Ephesians 2:4-6. What is our only hope of salvation and exaltation? (Jesus will raise us up and seat us in heavenly places with Him.)
C. Read Ephesians 2:7-9. What kind of “immeasurable riches” will Jesus give us? (His grace is a gift. His kindness is a gift. What else comes with that in heaven, it will be “rich” and “immeasurable.”)
1. What is required of us? (Faith.)
2. What is not required of us to receive this gift? (Works do not earn the gift. Salvation is by grace through faith, and the entire saving work is God’s gift, “not a result of works.”)
3. What is the overall message to us? (Hold on! Don’t let go of our faith.)
D. Read Ephesians 2:10. What does this tell us about our works? (They do not save us, but we were created to do good works. We should “walk” in good works.)
V. Faith and Endurance
A. Read Revelation 14:12. What are we asked to do? (To endure. To continue in faith even though it might be hard.)
B. Read Revelation 14:9-11. How are the other people doing? Those who give up and give in? (The fate of those who reject God is so terrible that the call to endurance is the easier path. However hard faithfulness may seem now, it is infinitely better than rebellion against God.)
C. Look again at Revelation 14:12. What does the life of the saint look like? (Faith and obedience.)
D. Friend, stay strong! Do not turn away from belief in Jesus even if life gets difficult. Jesus does not want you to suffer, and He promises that if you stick with Him you will live forever in joy.
VI. Next week: Sin, the Gospel, and the Law.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
